UK Wine Show 90 Greg Hay on the Otago, New Zealand

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Overview

Greg Hay of Peregrine Wines set up Chard Farm in Central Otago in 1986. We find out how the Otago wine region divides up and how Greg has been played his part in its success.

In 1986 there were just 40 wineries in New Zealand. Now, in 2008 there are about 580 labels. Back then there were 10 in Marlborough - Greg and his brother thought that was a bit crowded so why not try Otago instead where no real benchmark existed. When they set up Chard Farm there were just 4 small producers, the pioneers of the wine region: Rippon, Gibbston Valley, Black Ridge and one other. They planted 2 hectares, doubling the region's vineyards. In 1997 Greg left Chard Farm and, after getting his helicopter pilot's license, decided to start again from scratch in 1998 setting up Peregrine Wines. His time at Chard Farm gave him a good idea of the aspects and soil types of the region and so he knew to spread the vineyards out, sourcing fruit from 12 vineyards in Gibbston and Cromwell sub-regions, sometimes up to 18 vineyards.

The main 4 sub-regions are Gibbston, Cromwell, Wanaka and Alexandra basins. Gibbston is the most westerly of the regions and is defined a shared group of cliffs by the famous bungee jumping bridge over the Kawarau river and the Nevis Bluff at the other end. In the North of Otago is Waitaki, a new sub-region. Craggy Range, Waitaki Braids, Forrest Estate and Valli are good examples of wines from this area.

Otago is an alpine area with a continental climate unlike other New Zealand regions which are maritime. There are 4 ski fields on the doorstep. It gets very hot in summer - 35 degrees regularly but down to -15 degrees in winter. During crossovers between autumn and spring the vines are susceptible to frost. Windmills are being used to speed up the air and pull it down to the ground where it is warmer.

One trend in the region is for second labels - each company has a different philosophy. At Peregrine the main focus is Peregrine and the second label is Saddleback. After a while you set a style that is unique and becomes synonymous with the name. Because of the seasonal variations of the region they created a second label so that they could keep the quality and style of Peregrine consistent. Grey thinks seasonal variation has a far greater impact on the wine than the soil or climate. In terms of grapes, they know they can't do Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot justice because of the climate so they have always focused on producing great Pinot Noir.

Blair and Estelle Hunt own Bald Hills in Central Otago, New Zealand. Their 2005 Pinot Noir scooped Champion Red at the International Wine Challenge in 2007 attracting huge interest. We visited the vineyard to find out more.